Metro

Fish dinners offered for Lent

— Altoona Almrausch Schuhplattlers (German dance group) will serve their annual fish dinners from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Fridays, including Good Friday, April 18. The dinners will be served at the Unter Uns Club, 1405 Van Buren Ave. The cost for each meal is $14. An added special, crab cakes, will be available April 4 and April 18. Those meals will be $22.

— St. Patrick’s Seafood Buffet, 731 Patrick Lane, Newry, will be open from 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays through April 18. Cost is $20 for ages 13 to 59; $18 for seniors 60 years of age and older; $10 for children ages 5-12; and free to children under the age of 5. All take out meals are $20.

— Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 2716 Broad Ave., will hold their Annual Lenten Fish Fry on Fridays through Good Friday, April 18. Take out begins at 3:30 p.m. Eat in begins at 4:30 p.m. and continues to 7 p.m. or until sold out. Each dinner is $14.

Community Lenten lunch

A Hollidaysburg community Lenten Lunch and service sponsored by the Hollidaysburg Area Ministerium will be held at noon Friday, April 18, at the First United Methodist Church, Allegheny and Jones streets.

Area pastors will participate and a meat-free lunch will precede the service. Donations will go to the American Rescue Workers.

Easter egg hunts planned

— Greenwood United Methodist Church will host its annual Easter egg hunt at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 19, in the Prayer Garden across from the church.

— Altoona Restoration Church of God will host an Easter egg hunt at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 19, at the field, 701 Broadway, Altoona. The age groups will be divided from 0 to 12 years old to make it fair and safe for all children to participate. There will be more than 5,000 eggs with some special eggs for special prizes.

— The Well will hold an Easter egg hunt at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24 at the Willowbrook Trailer Park playground. There will be snacks, games and a short message of hope.

Free lunches offered

— Second Avenue Global Methodist Church, 130 Second Ave., Altoona, will hold a free luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 19. Dine in or take out available.

— Providence Presbyterian Church, 2401 Broad Ave., Altoona, will serve a free lunch from11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 19. The meal will include a sloppy joe sandwich, a variety of homemade soups, fruit and a dessert.

Free concert

A concert featuring the Raystown Woods, a local woodwind ensemble, and three advanced piano students of Cynthia Finnegan, will hold a concert at 3 p.m. April 27 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 408 N. Sixth St., Altoona. Admission is free as part of the Sunderman Memorial Concert Series.

Chef salad sale begins

A Chef’s Salad Sale will be held by Greenwood United Methodist Church. Salads will be available for pickup on Friday, May 9. Salads are $12 and tickets are available by calling 814-943-5834 or email office@greenwoodunitedmethodistchurch.com.

Last day to order tickets is Tuesday, May 6.

Food distribution planned

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Eighth Avenue and 13th Street, Altoona, will hold its monthly food pantry distribution from 2 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24. Food distribution is done on a drive-thru basis. More information is available on the church’s website or Facebook page, or call the church at 814-942-1372. Leave a message and calls will be returned. Donations to the food pantry, either in money or in nonperishable food are always welcome.

Trees topic of PEACE talk

Christ Community United Methodist Church, 5715 Roselawn Ave., Altoona, will be continuing its PEACE Initiative Studies with a conversation based on Reforesting Faith: What Trees Teach Us About the Nature of God and His Love for Us by Matthew Sleeth, MD. This will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 21, at the church. May’s study will be centered on Gena Thomas’ book “Separated by the Border” and the topic of refugees in America. This roundtable is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. May 21. Limited copies of the books are available at the church.

Food distribution scheduled

Food pantry distribution will be held from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Friday April 18, at Twenty-eighth Street Church of the Brethren. Food is distributed to those in need by appointment only, and appointments must be made by the Thursday prior to the distribution date. Call Deb at 814-207-8293 for information and an appointment. The church is at 28th Street and Union Avenue, Altoona.

Quilting ministry offered

Zion Lutheran Church invites women of all ages to attend Stitch and Sew in Zion’s Fellowship Hall from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays. No experience is required to help create quilts for Lutheran World Relief. Bring a bagged lunch, if you’d like. For more information, call the church office at 814-695-0091.

Run, walk benefits programs

St. Thomas Lutheran Church will host a 5K run/5K walk at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 19, at the church, 1439 Ridge Road, Hooversville. Race applications and sponsor forms are available at https://www.stthomaslutheranchurch.org/5k-race-walk.

All proceeds benefit St. Thomas youth programs in addition to community support for schools, fire departments, police, EMS and those in need.

Ladies conference planned

The Adorned Ladies Ministry of Calvary Baptist Church, 810 Ruskin Drive, Altoona, will host a ladies video conference from 6:15 to 9 p.m. April 25 and 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. April 26. The conference, “Truth: Uncovering the Lies We Believe,” features well known apologist and Bible scholar, Ken Ham with Dr. Georgia Purdom, Tommye Hammel, Camille Cates and Heidi St. John. Also featured is singer and keyboardist Michael O’Brien in concert Friday evening.

The conference is free; Saturday lunch is $10. Registration deadline is April 16. To register, visit https://calvarybaptistaltoona.org/events or call the Church office at 814-942-6541. The church is on Facebook: Calvary Baptist Altoona.

Teen program announced

Faith Baptist Church of Altoona is now hosting an after school program. Stand in the Gap Youth Ministries, geared toward teenagers, was started by Nicole Thompson. It is held in the church Fellowship Hall from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday for all teens in 6th through 12th grade. The program offers teens a safe place to gather, have fun, get a bite to eat, do homework or get help with their schoolwork.

For more information, call 814-935-3838. The church is in the Highland Park Section of the city, Fourth Avenue and 40th Street.

Exercising your faith

Everyone is welcome to praise the Lord while exercising at the Christian Dance Fitness class from noon to 1 p.m. Thursdays, at the Groove Fitness Studio, 539 E. 25th Ave., Altoona (Ivyside Plaza). The class is taught by instructor Cathy Chirdon. All fitness levels are welcome. Cost is $7 a class, or $60 for a 10-class punchcard; health insurance fitness plans accepted. For more information, call Groove Fitness at 814-329-3091.

Deadline

Religious organizations are invited to submit upcoming events, special speakers and other items to be published free of charge in Spiritual Notes. Items can be emailed to religion@altoonamirror.com or call Holly at 814-946-7451. Deadline for submissions is 4 p.m. Mondays.